Tonight is the night! Whitefish Gallery Nights will be wrapping up their 10th season Oct. 2 from 6-9 p.m.

This season saw 15 participating art specialty shops and galleries featuring dozens of artists, a variety of live entertainment, good food, drinks, and hundreds of visitors. Tom Gilfillan, owner of Whitefish Pottery and Stillwater Gallery, said this season has “worked out great.”

Gilfillan said he was happy with the events this year and was excited about the Stillwater Gallery's “Halloween Invitational,” set to kick off tonight with an opening reception and to remain on exhibit through the end of October. As pieces were being unpacked for display, he laughed at the “creepy contents” and said tonight's event would be “a whole lot of fun.”

The Stillwater Gallery, located inside Whitefish Pottery, isn't the only stop at tonight's event featuring a spooky theme.

Stumptown Art Studio will be holding an opening reception with refreshments this evening to celebrate the “Dia de los Muertos - Day of the Dead” exhibit. This exhibit features artwork by middle school and high school students from around the Flathead Valley. According to the studio's executive director Melanie Drown, that's what makes this exhibit so special and worth getting excited about.

“This is one of the best exhibits because it really engages kids,” Drown said. “Several hundred area youth are involved in this display, and that's really spectacular.”

The common thread between each gallery, exhibit, and Gallery Night this season is the focus on local connections. Many of the galleries only showcase local art, often complimented by entertainment by local musicians. The June, July and August events may be the best attended due to the influx of tourists during the summer, but many of the gallery owners agree that it's the locals who come out to Gallery Nights that really make it all worthwhile.

Ruth Lane, co-owner of the Purple Pomegranate, said that her favorite part of the Gallery Night events is “getting the people - especially the locals - into conversations about this and that.” The Purple Pomegranate will feature a juried fiber art exhibition called “Totem” during the month of October. Eight different fiber artists contributed to this 14-piece exhibit, opening tonight and on display through October.

Toni Idol, co-owner of the Dick Idol Signature Gallery, also enjoys the local connections made at Gallery Night events. “Gallery Nights are great for people to meet new friends and visit with old ones,” Idol said.

Tonight the Dick Idol Signature Gallery will be featuring contemporary bronzes from their newest artist, Darlis Lamb, known for her classical expression and elegant form in bronze. The Gallery will also feature new paintings by Colt Idol and Paul Dykman. The Bad Larrys will be performing, and the Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center will be on-hand at the gallery showcasing their rescued birds of prey. At 8 p.m. there will be a “very special unveiling of artwork by Colt Idol,” Toni Idol said. “This will be a very special evening you won't want to miss!”

The Walking Man Frame Shop and Gallery tonight will open the “Paper” exhibit, featuring the works of artist Angie Zimmerman and her students, local artists Mary Conway, Connie Leggett, Tim Bonds, Jeanne Tallman, Susan Lombardi, Paula Greenstein, Maggie Logan and Marylou Patterson. There will be refreshments and live music by Kelly West. Co-owner Michelle Edland said the Walking Man has been part of Whitefish Gallery Nights since the event premiered 10 years ago. She said that in the span of a decade many galleries have come and gone, but the event seems to grow in popularity each year.

“It's a great mix of people,” Edland said. “It's popular with locals because it's an event were people can get out in the evenings, see some art and listen to live music.”

“We encourage people to get out and support all the local arts and artists,” Edland said.

Whitefish Gallery Nights has proven over 10 years that the local arts community is here to stay. Tonight from 6 to 8 p.m., on the closing of their 10th successful season, that's a reason for celebration.

For a complete list of exhibits and displays for tonight's Gallery Night event, visit www.whitefishgallerynights.org. Maps and Gallery Guides can be picked up at any of the participating locations in downtown Whitefish. Whitefish Gallery Nights is free and open to the public.

Entertainment editor Stefanie Johnson can be reached at 758-4439 or ThisWeek@dailyinterlake.com.